The air outside The Drake Hotel was crisp and biting, a sharp contrast to the suffocating heat of the ballroom. The Chicago skyline stretched out above them, glittering beneath the dark night sky. The distant hum of traffic blended with the low rustling of wind against the pavement.
Theo's hand rested at the small of Aria's back as he guided her toward the curb where a sleek black car idled beneath the golden glow of the streetlights.
Aria's pulse hadn't slowed since they left the hotel. Her heels clicked sharply against the pavement, the sound almost drowned out by the rapid pounding of her heart.
She stopped just short of the car. "You didn't have to pull me out of there."
Theo's gaze darkened beneath the soft streetlights. "You weren't exactly holding your ground."
Her jaw tightened. "That's not your call."
Theo's mouth curved slightly, but there was no humor in his expression. His hand slid from her back, but he didn't step away. "You agreed to this."
"That doesn't mean you get to control me."
Theo's eyes flashed. "You're standing in my world now, Aria. You either adapt"
"Or what?" Aria's chin lifted defiantly.
Theo's gaze sharpened. Slowly, he stepped toward her, closing the distance between them until the heat of his body pressed into the thin satin of her dress. His eyes cold steel beneath the dim glow of the streetlights locked onto hers.
"Or you'll get eaten alive," Theo said softly.
Aria's breath hitched. Her pulse hammered dangerously as Theo's hand lifted toward her jaw. His fingers brushed against her skin, the touch light but deliberate.
"You think I can't handle this?" she whispered.
Theo's gaze darkened. "I think you're already in deeper than you realize."
Her chest rose and fell beneath the sharp cut of her dress. "And whose fault is that?"
Theo's mouth curved faintly. His thumb brushed the edge of her jaw.
"You're the one who said yes."
Her breath hitched.
Theo's gaze dropped to her mouth. His hand at her jaw tightened slightly enough to make her pulse spike dangerously.
"This isn't real," Aria whispered.
Theo's mouth tilted. "Isn't it?"
Her pulse spiked. For a terrifying, reckless moment, Aria thought he was going to kiss her.
Part of her wanted him to.
Theo's gaze sharpened like he could sense it and his mouth curved in quiet victory.
"Get in the car," he said softly.
Aria's eyes flashed. "Excuse me?"
Theo's gaze darkened. "Don't make me ask twice."
Aria's jaw tightened, but her body betrayed her. Slowly, she slid into the back seat of the car.
Theo followed a moment later, settling into the leather seat beside her with quiet control. The door clicked shut behind him.
The tension in the car was immediate and suffocating. The low hum of the engine filled the silence as the driver pulled away from the curb, slipping into the dark Chicago streets.
Aria's chest tightened. Her hands curled into fists in her lap as Theo's gaze remained steady on her profile.
"Why did you agree to this?" Theo's voice was low quiet and dangerous beneath the hum of the car.
Aria's mouth tightened. "You already know why."
Theo's eyes flashed. "Do I?"
Aria's head turned toward him, her eyes burning. "Because I didn't have a choice."
Theo's gaze sharpened. His hand slid along the edge of the seat, his fingers brushing dangerously close to her thigh.
"There's always a choice," Theo said quietly.
Aria's breath hitched. "Then why didn't you ask someone else?"
Theo's mouth curved slightly but it wasn't a smile.
"I don't trust anyone else."
Her pulse jumped painfully.
"Why?"
Theo's gaze darkened. "Because you're not from my world."
Aria's jaw tightened. "That's not an answer."
Theo's hand slid higher on the seat, his thumb brushing the thin satin of her dress.
"I don't owe you an answer," he said softly.
Aria's heart hammered dangerously. "Maybe not. But I'm not going to survive this if you keep treating me like I don't matter."
Theo's eyes sharpened. His hand slipped from the seat, his thumb brushing the inside of her knee. The heat of his touch seared through the thin fabric of her dress.
"You matter," Theo said quietly.
Aria's breath hitched. Her hands curled into fists in her lap. "To you?"
Theo's gaze darkened. "More than you should."
Her pulse spiked violently.
Before she could respond, the car slowed, pulling in front of a sleek glass high-rise overlooking the Chicago River.
Theo's hand slipped from her knee as the driver opened the door.
"We're here," Theo said.
Aria's chest tightened painfully as Theo slid out of the car. A moment later, he extended his hand toward her.
Aria's pulse hammered dangerously as her hand slid into his.
Theo's fingers curled around hers steady, firm. Possessive.
Theo led her through the lobby, his hand lingering at her back as they stepped into the private elevator. The doors slid shut with a quiet hiss.
Aria's heart raced as the elevator rose swiftly, the city lights flashing behind the glass walls. Theo's gaze remained steady on hers.
"You didn't answer my question," Aria said.
Theo's brow lifted.
"Why me?"
Theo's mouth tilted slightly. His hand brushed along her waist.
"Because you were the only one who didn't want anything from me."
Her breath hitched.
"And now?"
Theo's gaze darkened. "Now you belong to me."
Aria's heart slammed painfully into her ribs.
The elevator chimed. The doors slid open, revealing the dim glow of Theo's penthouse. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched along the far wall, casting soft light across the sleek modern furniture and polished wood floors.
Theo stepped aside.
"After you," he said smoothly.
Aria hesitated. Her heels felt too loud against the marble as she stepped into the penthouse.
Theo's hand slid along the small of her back as he followed her inside.
"Relax," Theo said.
Aria's breath hitched as Theo's hand slid higher along her back. His fingers brushed against the bare skin beneath her dress.
"You can't keep touching me like that," Aria said.
Theo's mouth tilted slightly. "Why not?"
"Because it's not part of the deal."
Theo's gaze sharpened. "Isn't it?"
Her pulse hammered. "No."
Theo's hand slid from her back. His gaze dark and cutting burned into hers beneath the low lights.
"Then stop me," he said quietly.
Her breath hitched.
Theo's mouth curved slightly. His hand brushed the edge of her jaw.
"That's what I thought."
Aria's chest tightened painfully. "This isn't real."
Theo's gaze darkened. His thumb brushed her bottom lip.
"It feels real to me."
Her breath hitched dangerously.
Theo's gaze sharpened. He leaned in slowly, his mouth hovering just above hers.
"Careful, Aria," Theo murmured. His breath stirred against her lips. "You're playing with fire."
Aria's pulse spiked violently. Her hand curled into his jacket.
"Then let me burn," she whispered.
Theo's mouth parted
A sharp knock at the door shattered the tension.
Theo's gaze darkened. He stepped back, his hand slipping from her jaw as he turned toward the door.
Aria's breath came in shallow bursts as Theo crossed the room and opened the door.
A sharp voice cut through the silence.
"You have a problem."
Richard Kingston stood in the doorway, his expression cold and dangerous beneath the dim light.
Theo's eyes narrowed. "You're interrupting."
Richard's mouth curled faintly. "This couldn't wait."
Theo's gaze sharpened.
Richard's gaze slid toward Aria. His eyes glinted with quiet calculation.
"Miss Morgan," Richard said smoothly. "It seems you've made yourself comfortable."
Aria's stomach twisted painfully.
Theo's hand curled into a fist at his side.
"This doesn't concern her," Theo said flatly.
Richard's mouth curved slightly.
"It does now."
Theo's jaw tightened, the sharp line of his mouth hardening as Richard Kingston stepped through the doorway like he owned the place. His sleek black coat was dusted with faint drops of rain, and the low lighting of the penthouse cast shadows across the severe angles of his face.
Richard's gaze slid toward Aria, cool and assessing. His mouth curved slightly but there was no warmth in the gesture, only the edge of quiet condescension.
Aria's pulse hammered painfully beneath her ribs. Every instinct screamed to step back to put space between herself and the man whose reputation was as cold and ruthless as the empire he'd built.
Theo's hand curled at his side. His gray eyes darkened. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Richard's mouth twitched faintly. "Is that any way to greet your father?"
Theo's eyes sharpened dangerously. His hand slid to Aria's waist, fingers pressing into the thin fabric of her dress. His grip wasn't hard but it was steady. Possessive.
"She's not part of this," Theo said flatly.
Richard's gaze lingered on Aria for a fraction of a second longer before shifting back toward Theo. "No?" His eyes flashed faintly. "Then you shouldn't have brought her into it."
Aria's chest constricted painfully. "What is he talking about?"
Theo's gaze didn't shift from Richard. "Nothing that concerns you."
Richard's mouth curved faintly. "Not yet."
Theo's jaw flexed. His hand at her waist tightened slightly, pulling her a fraction closer to his side. "Say what you came to say."
Richard's eyes gleamed beneath the low lights. Slowly, he reached into his coat and pulled out a slim black folder. He extended it toward Theo.
Theo didn't take it. "What is this?"
Richard's mouth curved. "A warning."
Theo's gaze sharpened. His hand slid from Aria's waist as he took the folder and opened it. His jaw tightened instantly.
Aria's heart hammered painfully as she tried to make sense of the document Theo was staring at.
"What is it?" Aria asked.
Theo's mouth was a hard line. "An acquisition contract."
Aria's brow furrowed. "For what?"
Richard's gaze slid toward her. "Kingston Enterprises."
Aria's breath hitched.
Theo's head snapped toward his father. "You're trying to sell the company?"
Richard's smile sharpened. "Not trying. Finalizing."
Theo's jaw tightened dangerously. "You can't authorize a sale without my signature."
Richard's gaze darkened. "But I can call a shareholder vote."
Theo's eyes flashed. "They won't vote against me."
Richard's mouth curved. "Are you sure about that?"
Theo's hand curled into a fist at his side. "What's your angle?"
Richard's gaze flicked toward Aria. "You're the one with the leverage problem, not me."
Theo's mouth hardened. His gaze darkened beneath the low lights.
"This is about her," Theo said quietly.
Richard's smile was thin. "It's about optics."
Aria's chest tightened painfully. "I don't understand."
Richard's gaze sharpened. "You're a distraction, Miss Morgan."
Aria's breath caught.
Theo's jaw tightened. "Careful."
Richard's eyes gleamed faintly. "The board isn't comfortable with your… arrangement." His gaze flicked toward Aria. "It's making them nervous."
Theo's hand at his side flexed dangerously. "That's not their concern."
Richard's smile sharpened. "It becomes their concern when your judgment starts to affect their bottom line."
Theo's mouth was a hard line. "They're making a mistake."
Richard's gaze darkened. "The only mistake is allowing a weakness to sit at your side."
Aria's chest tightened painfully. "I'm not a weakness."
Richard's gaze slid toward her. "No?" His eyes flashed faintly. "Then what exactly are you?"
Aria's breath hitched.
Theo's hand shot out, his fingers closing around Richard's lapel with sharp precision. He shoved his father back a step, his eyes burning beneath the low lights.
"Enough," Theo growled.
Richard's expression didn't shift calm, cold, dangerous. "Careful, Theo."
Theo's jaw flexed. His grip on Richard's lapel tightened.
"You don't get to come into my home and insult her." Theo's voice was low, sharp, cutting. "Not if you expect to leave standing."
Richard's mouth curved faintly. Slowly, his gaze flicked toward Theo's hand.
"Emotional responses," Richard said softly. "Sloppy."
Theo's jaw flexed dangerously. His breath was sharp and measured, his chest rising and falling beneath the sharp lines of his jacket.
Slowly, his hand slipped from Richard's lapel.
Richard's mouth twitched faintly. "You used to be better at this."
Theo's gaze burned dangerously.
"You used to be less predictable," Richard added.
Theo's hand curled into a fist at his side. "Get out."
Richard's gaze lingered for a long moment before he stepped back. His eyes slid toward Aria one last time, cold and calculating.
"Miss Morgan." His mouth curved faintly. "Enjoy your evening."
Aria's chest tightened painfully as Richard turned and disappeared through the door. The soft click of the door closing behind him seemed to echo in the quiet.
Aria's breath came in shallow bursts.
Theo's shoulders were tense beneath his jacket, his jaw tight as he stared at the closed door. His breath was sharp and even too controlled.
Aria's hand lifted toward his arm. "Theo"
"I'll handle it."
Her hand hovered just above his sleeve. "What does he mean about the board?"
Theo's mouth tightened. His gaze didn't shift from the door. "It's complicated."
Aria's chest tightened. "So explain it to me."
Theo's gaze sharpened. Slowly, he turned toward her. His eyes burned beneath the low lights.
"They think you make me weak."
Aria's breath hitched. "Do you believe that?"
Theo's gaze darkened. His hand lifted toward her face, his fingers brushing the edge of her jaw.
"I think you make me dangerous," Theo murmured.
Her heart slammed into her ribs.
Theo's thumb brushed along her jawline. His eyes storm-gray and burning cut straight through her.
"They think you're a distraction," Theo said softly. "But they don't understand."
Aria's pulse hammered painfully beneath her skin. "Understand what?"
Theo's mouth curved faintly. "That you're the only one keeping me in line."
Her breath hitched.
Theo's gaze dropped to her mouth. His thumb brushed along her bottom lip.
"I should let you go," Theo said softly.
Aria's heart hammered. "Why don't you?"
Theo's mouth tilted.
"Because I don't want to."
Her pulse spiked dangerously.
Theo leaned in slowly, his mouth hovering just above hers. His breath stirred against her lips, sharp and measured.
Aria's breath caught painfully. Her hands curled into the sharp lapels of his jacket.
"Theo"
His mouth brushed the edge of hers light, dangerous, not quite a kiss.
A shiver shot down her spine.
Theo's breath stirred against her mouth.
"Careful," he whispered.
Aria's breath hitched. "Or what?"
Theo's gaze burned.
"Or I might start believing this is real."
Her breath faltered.
Theo's mouth curved faintly. His hand slid from her jaw.
"Get some sleep," Theo murmured.
Aria's chest tightened painfully as Theo stepped back. He crossed the room toward the window, his figure cutting sharply against the city lights.
Aria's breath came in shallow bursts as she watched him.
This was dangerous.
But it was already too late to walk away.